The reality is it might have already kicked in for the Senators: It's called five years, $35 million left on his contract.

There are plenty of Ottawa fans who want the team's No. 1 centre dealt - including those who booed him during the first-round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the 44% of respondents to the Ottawa Sun's You Be The Boss end-of-season poll.

If the Senators are trying to deal the 26-year-old - he turns 27 next month - GM Bryan Murray must be doing it quietly. Five teams contacted by the Sun haven't heard Spezza's name being shopped.

Experts believe there's a good reason why.

"There's no market for him," said Sportsnet analyst Doug MacLean, a former GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets. "I think what you do is you hope that he improves. You've got (Milan) Michalek and you hope those two can develop some chemistry. You just have to plug around (Spezza).

"Look, he's going to be a gambler (when it comes to his playing style). You're not going to change him. You just let him be that offensive guy and then you surround him with solid checkers.

"I don't think there's a market to move him. I really don't. Unless you're going to get ripped off and you don't want that to happen."

Speculation is Spezza isn't thrilled with the fans, either.He complained to Murray about being booed by the hometown faithful in the playoffs. The Senators told him that comes with the territory.

After dealing disgruntled winger Dany Heatley to the San Jose Sharks last September for Michalek and winger Jonathan Cheechoo, the

club doesn't want to go through another summer of uncertainty.

The Senators committed to Spezza to be their No. 1 centre and his numbers show that he's lived up to his end of the bargain. In 464 regular-season games with the club, Spezza has 171 goals and 304 assists for 475 points. Of course, what drives fans nuts is his turnovers.

"You could deal him, but what you're going to end up with is half the player, possibly at the same money," said one league executive. "Then, you're going to watch your team play with the guy you got (in exchange) on the third line and you're going to be wondering, 'What did I do?'

"(As a GM) you've got to sit down with your coaching staff and make sure that they just get the most out of him. Every team has got those guys. The Senators aren't the only ones looking at this right now."

MacLean said fans should be careful what they wish for.

"Jason Spezza is a No. 1 centre and there are very few of them out there," said MacLean. "Tyler Bozak is the No. 1 centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Those guys are hard to find. What would Montreal be without (Tomas) Plekanec, he's their No. 1 centre? It's tough. There's not many of them.

"Boston has (Marc) Savard and they don't have much after that. (David) Krejci is a young guy that's going to come, but they're really hard to find. I was seven years in Columbus, I got (Derick) Brassard, I thought he was going to be the guy. So, you've got to be careful if you're moving (Spezza) and you're not going to get an equal player back."

MacLean and two NHL executives noted if Spezza was "a $5-million player," fans would be happy.

"I know it's frustrating, but you're not going to get quality in return and you're going to be asked to take a lot of money back," said another league executive. "This is a guy who has a chance to get 80-to-100 points per year.

"Who knows? Maybe there's a team out there that wants to make a splash and they'd be willing to trade some of their young guys, but then you're going to have to wait for those guys to develop. I think you can still win with the guy, but you just have to make sure you have the right players around him."

POSSIBLE SUITORS

TAMPA BAY: The Bolts first need a GM. The next man in the door will have to decide what to do with C Vinny Lecavalier. The Senators wouldn't want his $7.27-million annual cap hit, potentially all the way through 2019-20.

COLUMBUS: The Jackets have been looking for a No. 1 centre since they came into the league. Neither former Senator Antoine Vermette nor Derick Brassard has been able to grab the job. Brassard would be offered up, along with the fourth overall pick in the draft.

EDMONTON: The Oilers would love to get Spezza. They'd offer D Sheldon Souray, possibly Andrew Cogliano and underachieving C Shawn Horcoff. That's just not the answer for the Senators. Won't make them better.